16 U.S. Code § 698n - Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve

There is established in the St. Johns River Valley, Florida, where the Timucuan Indians lived in prehistoric and historic times, the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve (hereafter in sections
698n to
698p of this title referred to as the “Preserve”). The Preserve shall comprise the lands, waters, and interests therein within the boundaries generally depicted on a map of Duval County, Florida, entitled “Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve” numbered NA–TEHP 80,003–A and dated July 1987. The map shall be on file and available for public inspection in the Office of the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. The Secretary of the Interior may make minor revisions in the boundary of the Preserve in accordance with section
460l–9(c) of this title. The Preserve shall also include within its boundaries all that land consisting of approximately 500 acres adjacent to Fort Caroline National Memorial and known as the Theodore Roosevelt Preserve, being land formerly owned by one Willie Brown and donated by him to The Nature Conservancy.

(2) Modification of boundary

(A) In general

In addition to the land described in paragraph (1), the Preserve shall include approximately 8.5 acres of land located in Nassau County, Florida, as generally depicted on the map entitled “Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve American Beach Adjustment”, numbered 006/80012 and dated June 2003.

(B) Duties of Secretary

The Secretary of the Interior shall—

(i)revise the boundaries of the Preserve so as to encompass the land described in subparagraph (A); and

(ii)maintain the map described in subparagraph (A) on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service.

(b) Land acquisition

The Secretary of the Interior (hereinafter in sections
698n to
698p of this title referred to as the “Secretary”) is authorized to acquire lands and interests therein within the Preserve by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, or exchange, but no lands other than wetlands or interests therein may be acquired without the consent of the owner. For purposes of this subsection, the term “wetlands” has the same meaning as provided by section
3902 of this title. Lands, interests in lands, and improvements thereon within the boundaries of the Preserve which are owned by the State of Florida or any political subdivision thereof may be acquired only by donation or exchange. On lands acquired for inclusion within the Preserve, the Secretary shall not impair any legal riparian right of access nor shall he preclude the continued use of any legal right of way.

(c) Administration

The Secretary shall administer those lands acquired for inclusion within the Preserve in such a manner as to protect the natural ecology of such land and water areas in accordance with sections
698n to
698p of this title and the provisions of law generally applicable to units of the National Park System, including sections
1,
2,
3, and
4 of this title. The Secretary shall permit boating, boating-related activities, hunting, and fishing within the Preserve in accordance with applicable Federal and State laws. The Secretary may designate zones where, and establish periods when, no hunting or fishing shall be permitted for reasons of public safety.

(d) Development of multiunit residential/resort project

Nothing in sections
698n to
698p of this title shall affect development of a multiunit residential/resort project currently proposed for Fort George Island, nor shall any provision of sections
698n to
698p of this title be construed to affect any Federal, State or local law applicable to such project.